This was a really cute father daughter relationship. I was hesitant to accept this ARC, since I don't think I'm completely in the target demographic for it, and even though the ended up being somewhat true, I still enjoyed it!

Thank you to Netgalley and Dutton for the advanced copy of this book!

In an act of desperation, a dad takes his surly 11-year-old daughter to a special camp in an attempt to reconnect with her. As the week progresses, the pair will discover how much they know about each other and what they have left to learn. Author Evan S. Porter shows his ease and comfort level with writing from a dad’s point of view in the mostly funny, always lighthearted book Dad Camp.

For John Collins, his number one girl is his daughter, Avery. John has a loving, supportive relationship with his wife, Evelyn, but he and Avery have been a team since she was born. Lately, though, Avery doesn’t seem to want to hang out with John much.

It’s not because John is an absentee father. In fact, he spends every minute possible with her, coaching her sports teams and being the designated parent at home. Evelyn’s job as a corporate recruiter keeps her busy, and John supports her career. Never mind that the traditional gender roles are swapped in their home; John looks at the biggest bonus, which means he gets to be with Avery.

Yet Avery has stopped talking to John. She doesn’t share things with him anymore, the jokes that used to make her crack up now make her roll her eyes, and sometimes all John has to do is say “hi” and Avery explodes. Evelyn keeps saying it’s because Avery is a tween and that her behavior is normal. All John knows is that his best girl doesn’t want to have anything do with him anymore, and it’s breaking his heart.

That’s why he thinks a special father-daughter camp is exactly what they need. A full week of roasting s’mores, going kayaking, singing goofy camp songs, and just hanging out. John is convinced that the vacation will be a reset and give Avery a new perspective on their relationship—or bring back the old one anyway.

Except the minute they get to camp, everything starts to go wrong. The cabins look nothing like what was promised on the website. The food is just a notch above edible. And the camp counselor actually expects John and the other dads to, well, talk about stuff. John wanted to play Capture the Flag, not try to capture his emotions and put them on display for the whole camp to see.

As John works through the week and his relationship with his daughter, he starts to make some startling discoveries about himself and their duo. The most important one is that the secret he has is probably best not kept a secret. But if he tells Avery, it might destroy their bond for good.

Author Evan S. Porter balances the earnestness of John’s tone with a playfulness and lightheartedness that will appeal to readers. Within a few chapters, any parent will find themselves identifying with John’s conundrum: how do we let kids grow up without letting go of them completely? Porter allows for John’s confusion as a father, and Evelyn’s confidence as a mother, to shine without making it sound cringy or stereotypical.

Curiously, Porter doesn’t share the location of where the Collins family lives or the location of the camp that John and Avery attend. Instead, the author offers just enough details to make the Collins family relatable; the parents who feel slightly uncomfortable in their social circle because of the choices they’ve made as a couple. The child who plays a sport that has become ubiquitous with youth athletes without pinpointing it to one particular city or the other.

The result is a story that allows readers to imprint their own similarities onto it. Porter’s choice may seem like a risky one from a writing standpoint. However, by not focusing on where the book takes place, readers come to it with much fewer preconceived notions.

The plot does start to flounder in the later part of the camp week. After a major announcement by the camp director, the story isn’t quite sure what direction to take and tries to cover its bases by offering several solutions. Still, most readers will finish the novel with the feel-good experience Porter no doubt intended. They may also end it wishing for more stories like these, told from the point of view of a dad who is just trying to relate to his children.

First of all, while I have no real complaints about this book, it is just not really for me content-wise. But I do think it was written well and has a lovely story of the struggles of parenting/fatherhood. If I were a father (or a man?), maybe this would have hit harder?

- I love the idea of showcasing a father's inner struggles with his relationship with his daughter, showing the dynamic between them from many angles and many ages to allow us to get a fuller picture of the family.
- I hate the fact that the whole book is built on a lie that John told just to get Avery to go to this camp with him. Like in what world would that set this up to be a good arrangement?
- The camp vibes are immaculate. I love a good summer camp and this had some very fun, vivid representations of camp activities.
- I loved exploring the different dynamics of all the father-daughter duos at the camp, so we not only get John + Avery, but all of the others and their own struggles.
- Avery was a spunky main character with her own flaws
- This was not as exciting as I thought it could be... Cute, heartwarming, inspiration, sure. But this isn't what I usually like to read.

- I also love that the author has stated that this book came about upon his own self reflection as a father and all the struggles of "manhood" and "fatherhood" that he has encountered or knows that men encounter. Knowing it comes from a personal place does put it into better perspective.

3 out of 5 Stars! Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for this eARC of Dad Camp by Evan S. Porter.

This was a pretty cute book for me but I can see how this may hit a dad who has a daughter. As my own relationship with my dad, I can't say that I could relate. My relationship with my own parents are different and also coming from a different country. I think I would've enjoyed the book if I had a daughter and to see this with my husband but it just didn't hit me enough to cry. This did make me feel almost bad when I think back on how I was in middle school but...what teenager isn't?

If anything, this book does confirm for me that dads need friends, especially those who are in the similar boat with them. My husband and I have kids with special needs and I can tell you that dads are a different breed when it comes to making friends. As a mom who yearn and search for other moms in the same book, that sort of relationship does exist and makes you feel like you're not alone.

Overall, cute story and I'd like to check out the author's future books.

Thank you to the Publisher for my arc!

I really wanted to enjoy this seeing as the premise seemed like something i would like but I was just bored due to the slow moving story and I didn't really enjoy any of the characters.

It was fine. This book was recommended to me, and I picked it up based on the description and thought it might remind me of my father. It comes out right in time for Father's Day, so I am sure it will find its audience.
I appreciate the idea behind the book and the rare focus on the father-daughter dynamic in this specific format. But it was just not for me. The descriptions of the young girls' characters focused on the appearance a bit more than I think was needed, and certain moments are cringy - some in a funny way, others just in a second-hand embarrassment sort of way.
The male characters are a bit stereotypical (to add to the comedic power of the book, I am sure), and the main Dad just tries too hard. The writing is fine, and it was an easy read, just not a very engaging one, in my opinion. All that said, I think many people will enjoy it, especially if the premise is relatable to them in some way.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

As a daughter myself, this had me in TEARS! This came out just in time for Father's Day <3. A very heartwarming story about a father-daughter trip to Camp Triumph. Avery is 11 and her father, John, believes he is her "hero". This book beautifully captures the challenges and emotions of parenting. I felt like it so accurately touches on breaking generational cycles. Even though this book gave me all the feels, it was actually very funny too!

The loved all the side characters in this! They felt very real and relatable.

3.5 - At first I wasn't sure if I would even want to read this book. It's not my go-to pick, a book about a dad and his daughter, navigating the pre-teen years seemed like something I wouldn't be able to relate to. But I'm really glad I ended up reading this sweet story about a dad's love for his children and the different struggles dads go through.

This book is about John, a dad who is struggling to connect with his daughter Avery, who he is had the closest bond with and made his entire world since she was born. John once spent all of his time focused on spending time with Avery and doing everything to make her happy, and suddenly, as she is entering middle school, she is shutting him out. John signs them up for a father-daughter summer camp to try and spend bonding time together and spends a week trying to decipher his daughter, but instead discovered a lot of things about himself.

This book explored the bond between father's and their children, but it mainly focused on the different struggles that dads go through as they navigate masculine stereotypes and the different roles a dad must play in society and in a family. I think my favorite part was seeing how different the 4 dads who become friends throughout this book were, each portraying a different type of a dad, and how unique and wonderful each of them were. This story was heartwarming, funny, and really made me reflect on what it could be like to be a parent. It was a great debut literary fiction!

Thank you to Dutton and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

I often don’t make time for rom-coms needless to say dad-coms if there ever was one BUT! the cover and title on this was hard to pass up. I’m glad I gave it a go because it was a barrel of laughs coated with sugary dad sentiments throughout the entire read. An absolute feel-good story that made me want to curl up in blankets with coffee in hand.

I didn’t need to relate much to the characters at all in order to appreciate the message of this book. It was easy to pick up between chapters and I was both amused and entertained from start to finish. I enjoyed the light and tender moments of Dad Camp as well as the silly humor and dad jokes. But the best parts were the friendships forged during the retreat and personal reflections on parenting from each dad.

The release for this title couldn’t be more appropriate as Father’s Day is fast approaching in the U.S. I’m highly considering getting a copy for myself and would recommend to anyone who is a parent, husband, or dad. Thanks to the author for such a charming and heartfelt debut.



Many thanks to Dutton for my ARC of Dad Camp.

Dad Camp by Evan S Porter is about John and his daughter Avery. Avery is A great student and an outstanding athlete and until recently has been dad John’s biggest fan but she’s 11 now and growing up. Her new attitude towards John has him signing up to
A week at a dad and daughter camp. He’s hoping this week will turn the relationship around and have them be as close as they were the only problem is he doesn’t follow the rules he is hiding something from Avery and in the beginning doesn’t get along with the other dads. OK let me start with the good things I found a lot of this book to be so funny like when they were golfing and a lot of the dialogue especially with Dennis to me was so funny know what I didn’t like the one thing I don’t like this new apologetic parenting like when Avery wouldn’t talk to John and instead of teaching her that’s not how you treat people he is more apologetic and catering to her every whim hoping she’ll like him again I thought his whole identity was wrapped up in her and it is good to be close to your children and focus on raising them but it is if he had no identity except for being her dad I totally thought Lou was such a good dad and despite him being short with Tam, all because of Rian I still thought he was such a super dad. Having set all bad I base most of my stars on how I felt at the end of the book and I think this is one that leaves me with such a great feeling and although I didn’t agree with John’s parenting style and his whole please like me attitude when it comes to his child I still thought this was well written really funny with some great characters especially Dennis. I want to thank penguin group Dutton for my free art copy via NetGalley. Please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Interesting idea for a book. Camp stories always intrigue me. I had some trouble getting into this one, though. John just seemed a little too invested in Avery. I definitely think it’s worth your time if the story interests you. Stories about fathers and daughters are worth the telling. Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Dad camp is a light, endearing novel that follows the bond between fathers and daughters. John is a man whose life has revolved around his daughter Avery since she was born. Avery is now about to go to middle school and John, afraid of losing her to the challenges of adolescence and signs them up for a week at dad camp. The camp is a sleep away camp for fathers and daughters to bond and improve their relationship. Throughout the week, John learns important lessons about himself and his relationships and what fatherhood means.

Dad camp is a quick read and parents everywhere will undoubtedly relate to the story. There are times where it feels very young adult though and simplistic, so go into the book expecting to just turn your mind off and feel good.

Thanks to the publisher for providing this arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

It is a well-documented fact on this feed that I am easily charmed by the promise of a summer camp story. And that’s the only explanation I can come up with for why I requested Dad Camp from @NetGalley.

The premise: Dad books a week at a father-daughter camp to bond with his kid. Dad may have lied to aforementioned kid about club soccer try-outs being cancelled. Dad may be freaking out about his daughter growing up. Kid is not thrilled about camp. Chaos ensues.

Listen, this isn’t a bad story. I just couldn’t shake the feeling that this was meant to be a young adult novel and wasn’t. It’s told entirely from the dad’s perspective, but honestly would have been so much more interesting and nuanced if it was told in alternating perspectives. Give the kid a voice, darn it. This change would have also helped temper the almost too-saccharine tone. (Or maybe, because I do not have kids, the tone was fine and parents of young kids will find this wonderful. What do I know?)

In any case, Dad Camp publishes tomorrow, June 11. This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

DAD CAMP by Even S. Porter is a heartwarming look at the challenging world of parenting and all the emotions that come with it. It captures the bond between fathers and daughters in an insightful, yet funny way. When John’s daughter, Avery, was born, he decided to give up most of his outside activities, including a great job, to devote himself to being the best dad ever. He and Avery have always been inseparable until lately. Now eleven, Avery is a pre-teen and starting to pull away from her dad. Desperate to hold on to their special bond for a little while longer, John drags Avery to a “father-daughter week” at a remote summer camp. But things don’t go exactly according to plan as John finds it hard to bond with the other dads and Avery is more interested in spending her time with her new camp friends. As the story unfolds, a dad’s unique perspective is portrayed with wit and humor. Although not a parent myself, I still enjoyed this endearing story. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy.

This would make the perfect gift for any father, especially if they have a daughter in their life.

When I was a teenager, my dad took me on a trip; it was just the two of us. I never really thought about why he did this, but after reading Dad Camp by Evan Porter, it all became clear to me. I was changing from being his "little girl" who wanted her dad at every sporting event and turning into a teen who only wanted to be with her friends. That must be incredibly hard on a parent. How does a dad continue that connection that he had with his daughter for so many years?

In Dad Camp, there are all types of dads that want to connect more with their kids for different reasons. You might even catch a glimpse of your own dad. The book is written from the perspective of John, one of the dads, who is struggling to watch his preteen daughter drift away from him. Dad Camp made me laugh many times, but it was also truly touching. The dads had to reach deep down at times to understand their own family dynamics. There were camp antics, girl drama, and dads becoming "bros."

I gave this book four out of five stars. It made me wish I could still call my dad.

Very much enjoyed this heartwarming story of John and Avery. Avery is John's 11 year old daughter who is his whole world but she's getting to that age where she doesn't always want to be seen by her parents. John made the decision to sign them up for a camp getaway to Camp Triumph for fathers and daughters to help them bond again. You get the bad, the good and the ugly that comes with parenting.

While I do not have any kids and do not plan on it, I remember the days of not wanting to be seen or hugged by my parents when friends were around. Now that I have friends and family that have kids, I make sure to give my parents all the annoying hugs and phone calls I can because I can see how much love and joy having kids bring to everyone.

Thank you to NetGalley, Nicole Jarvis and Evan S Porter for the the eARC

I was really intrigued by this premise. As a woman who is very close to her father, I recognize it hasn't always been this way. And I was really excited about exploring relationships between fathers and daughters in this way.

While it had some tender moments, it ultimately fell a bit flat for me. I feel like we never got a good enough explanation for some of the main conflicts, and there wasn't enough character development to make the ending feel earned.

Dad Camp by Evan S. Porter is very different than the books I usually read, I usually tend to read either thrillers or fantasy. However, I did find myself throughly enjoying this book.

Dad camp was a heart warming novel, that tells the story of a dad (John) that "drags" his daughter (Avery) to a week long summer camp, so they can strengthen their bond as father and daughter. At first John does not think his relationship with Avery need any fixing, all he wanted was to be closer to his daughter, as they once were and wanted new memories together, but then he realises that the relationship is not as solid as John thought.

John talks about his journey as a father, through flashbacks, giving more of an in depth perception to the reader of his relationship with Avery and coming to terms of his own flaws. This book had me laughing and also there were some parts I was getting emotional to the point of shedding a tear. Overall, I enjoyed this book and it did make me think as a child we could do better appreciating all the sacrifices our parents have done for us and most times all they want is for us to show the love back to them.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for this ARC, the above review are my own thoughts.

Despite the slow start to this novel, the story really took off, and it was more about the relationship between a father and daughter during those tougher tween years, but at the same time, growth for the father in that relationship.

John has a wonderful bond with his daughter, Avery. That is until recently. This isn't too unusual since Avery is hitting those tween years when most children start to figure out who they are without their parents. Well, John's brilliant idea to take her to a daddy/daughter camp will either resolve issues or create more. This camp is quite interesting from the owner to the other guests. The owner is a bit quirky, and while it seems like he is overstepping in some areas, he really does put out some nuggets of wisdom for the dads. Then there are the other dads. They come with attitudes, secrets, and denial about their life choices. While the camp is meant to strengthen the bonds between father and daughter, it forges a friendship between the dads because maybe they are more alike than they think. 

The story did feel rather depressing in the beginning. I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to finish the book. However, once the pair arrive at camp, the story takes on a new angle. There are many funny moments and some poignant ones, too. I enjoyed the interactions between the characters. They really stepped up and helped each other realize some truths. 

While I feel the book focuses a lot on the fathers, there are moments for the daughters to realize who they are, what kind of relationship they want with their dad, and that maybe they can do more than they ever thought. Avery has to learn a lot to tone down her competitive nature. I wonder if that has anything to do with being an only child.

I did like how the story would jump back in time and give us more backstory on John and Avery. This helps us understand who they are today and what might have gotten them there.

While the week may not have been what anyone wanted or had planned on, it resulted in some bonding moments for all those involved and perhaps a new insight into the father or daughter.

If you can get past the slower start, I think you will enjoy this debut novel. We give it 4 paws up.

I loved this book. I think it is a beautiful message about the different chapters in our lives, especially those that occur when you become a parent. Your life can become so focused on what your kid needs and being the center of their world that letting go and moving on to the next chapter can be difficult. One of the people who I follow inspires women to get their pink back after having kids. Sometimes we forget that getting that pink back doesn’t only apply to women but men as well. I hope this book inspires readers to remember that for every season of your life there will be changes, and sometimes they will be harder than others but they are just as important as the last season. Embrace them and remember that your needs are important too. You will always be needed it just might look different depending on where you are in your life.
Thank you to Penguin Group Dutton and Netgalley for allowing me to read this stunning book.